Wood & StoneThe Transformation of Great Vow Zen Monastery
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| "Wood and Stone" calligraphy by Kaz | ||
Total cost of projects: $56,500 Still needed: $30,500 |
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PLACING THE NEW PAGODA
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This Pagoda was donated to Great Vow Zen Monastery by Mr. Chua Beng Thian of Malaysia, and is due to arrive in January or February of this year. It will need a base of support to stand on and probably some additional structural support -- we’ll need engineering help to figure out how this is going to work. Shipping costs ($1500) have been donated by Ven. Mahinda of Sri Lanka and Ilowan’s Children, Inc., in Boise, Idaho. Our very rough estimate of the value of the pagoda itself is $20,000. PROJECT COST $26,500 STILL NEEDED $5,000 (approximate)
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A photo of the pagoda being sent to us |
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BUILDING A TRADITIONAL SODO (TRAINING HALL) IN THE GYM |
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This is our work project for the summer of this year. The above photo is of the gaitan outside the training hall at Cedar Rapids Zen Center. Ours will look a bit different, though the feeling will be very similar. Participants in future formal training periods will live in the Sodo – sleeping, eating, and meditating all in one place. Having a traditional Sodo has been a vision of our abbots for many years. Building this hall temporarily in the gym will make it affordable. Eventually we hope to have a separate Sodo building. PROJECT COST: $15,000 STILL NEEDED: $15,000 (approximate)
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UPGRADING THE GYM SHOWER and KITCHEN AREAS |
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Adding a new wall will make the shower areas smaller and more efficient to heat, plus give us some new rooms. We are also doing some re-plumbing in both the gym shower and kitchen areas and upgrading the insulation for further energy efficiency. PROJECT COST $10,000 STILL NEEDED $10,000 (approximate)
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Tentative plans for the shower upgrade |
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INSTALLING THE SHRINE OF VOWS |
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Each stone placed in the shrine represents someone’s vow. By placing smaller rings on top of filled larger rings, this simple structure eventually will reach an inspiring height. Come to the monastery to place your own vow stone. --Visit the Shrine of Vows news page-- PROJECT COST: $500 STILL NEEDED: $500 (approximate)
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